Dink disregarded caution and fearlessly reached a hand out towards the newly evolved Griffon. It lowered its head, pressing its pristine white crest against Dink’s palm. The Griffon had halved in size, leaving it still rger than an adult elephant. Dink examined its changes in bewilderment. Its colouring had become a vibrant mixture of whites, bcks and crimsons. Looking closely, he even noticed bck Draconic scales had repced the usual birdlike ones on its cws.

  Why did the Griffon suddenly get smaller if its bloodline upgraded?

  “Because the creature was ungainly. It relied on the ancestral magic of the mountains to support its size, limiting its range and capabilities. I guided its transformation to break the Roc generational curse of being big and stupid. This creature now possesses Draconic traits of cunning and the ability to sustain itself outside of its territory. The Roc primal race has always defied logic and common wisdom, that’s why they no longer exist. Now, let me rest,” Akarad replied inside his mind, sounding overwhelmed with exhaustion.

  “I assume you wish to remain with me?” Dink asked in the arcane tongue. The Griffon nodded, closing its eyes and nuzzling its giant head into Dink in submission. Dink shrugged with a grin. “I don’t see why not. I didn’t take notice earlier but you’re male, I need an appropriate name for you. Hmm, how about Birdy?”

  Dink showed his unconventional naming sense once more, perfectly acceptable for a Goblin. Birdy cawed its satisfaction into the sky, rearing its wings up high. Murkuk came close, trembling with awe at being so close to the majestic beast. Holding out a shaking hand, Murkuk stroked the Griffon’s vibrant feathers, infatuated with the feeling and anything remotely resembling a feline house cat.

  Birdy allowed Murkuk’s attention, preening itself with a rumbling purr deep in its chest. Murkuk grinned and gained confidence, petting the feathers more vigorously before pulling his hand away.

  “Enough of that. We have things to do. Where’s Estra and the others?” Dink interrupted.

  “Elf, that way. Others, I dunno,” Murkuk replied, pointing out a direction through the forest that Dink could also feel through their bond. He then helplessly shrugged at being unable to tell him.

  “Did they separate from you?” Dink probed.

  “Big cat went home after Elf gave up. King’s women heard need tie to Eating Woods for ritual. Went to city inside mountain to find a new King to finish quest. Murkuk came to find you, know you wake up from dead. Found tribe instead,” Murkuk replied in broken common, showing empty palms.

  “Ugren, home of the Dwarves and the Arena of Champions. Estra must have worked out that her ritual to tame the Expanding Woods requires more than just plucking her flower. Unfortunately, there’s no substitute for the one who inadvertently created it. Not just any random monster will do and would probably eat her just as much as fuck her. It’s unusual for Axion to return to Mistress Celeste without completing his task. Something else must have happened. But I won’t get any more information from Murkuk about it,” Dink muttered to himself, thoughtfully stroking his chin. He turned to survey the wreckage of the Goblin tribe’s ruined vilge. “I better go find my women. Do I ditch these vermin here or do I use the tools I have avaible and use them as cannon fodder? There’s strength in numbers and King of Goblins does have a nice ring to it. I might be able to pick up some more along the way.”

  Dink reached out and grabbed the scruff of the neck belonging to the nearest Goblin furtively trying to capture Wart hiding on Dink’s shoulder. He tossed the yellow-skinned Goblin to the side. Its eyes grew wide in terror, watching the Dragonbone sword seemingly grow from Dink’s spine as he reached back to grip the hilt. Pulling the bde free, Dink decapitated the Goblin in one swing.

  The severed head bouncing across the dusty ground instantly subdued the Goblin’s in the surrounding area, drawing their attention. They grew submissively quiet and stared at Dink with new respect, forgetting about their dead cnsman.

  “Alright, vermin! You will restrain yourselves and do exactly what I tell you to. Should you disobey or simply irritate me, you will be fed to Birdy,” Dink commanded, turning to gesture with the bloodied sword at the Griffon behind him.

  Birdy paused at suddenly becoming the centre of attention, a Goblin foot poking out of his beak. Gncing around, Birdy understood Dink’s intentions. Adjusting his posture, Birdy threw his head back and dramatically swallowed the Goblin corpse without chewing. The onlooking Goblin’s eyes first grew round and then their mouths drooped open in awe, followed by enthusiastic cpping and cheering.

  “Fucking Goblins. I already know I’m going to regret my decision to keep them,” Dink grumbled, spping a palm across his face. He ignored their goblinish chattering he now understood to be a butchered version of common no other race could understand after generations of being confined with them in arena cages. “Pack up! Leave nothing useful behind. You’re never coming back here!”

  They immediately responded to his command, scattering to find things valuable only to a Goblin among the vilge debris. Dink sheathed his weapon behind his back and mounted to Birdy’s back. While Murkuk struggled to organise the rambunctious Goblins, Dink took to the skies to scout and chart a path through the woods. He flew ahead for a while, feeling Murkuk leading the tribe after him.

  Goblins need a very short lead and constant reminders about what happens with dissenters. Arena guards have to kill at least a Goblin a day to keep the rabble under sway. I may have to take a lesson from them on keeping Goblins well-behaved.

  Dink sighted a rge town in the distance. He gestured for Birdy to nd among the trees, intent on trekking the rest of the way on foot.

  “Stay out of sight,” Dink commanded after he dismounted, waving the Griffon to depart. Birdy obeyed, flying high to disappear among the clouds. Dink could feel Murkuk catching up as he crept through the thicket to get closer to the town.

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